Arch support with metatarsal support bar



March 19, 1963 J. LELYVELD ARCH SUPPORT WITH METATARSAL SUPPORT BAR Filed May 19, 1960 FIGB IN V EN TOR.

JOSEPH LE L YVELD BY wm www AT TOR N EYS United States Patent O 3,081,774 ARCH SUPPORT WITH METATARSAL SUPPORT BAR Joseph Lelyveld, 321 Union St., Rockland, Mass. Filed May 19, 1960, Ser. No. 30,255 2 Claims. (Cl. 12S-615) This invention relates to arch supports to be inserted in mens, womens or ichildrens footwear to provide support for the arch of the foot, especially the metatarsal portion and the side margins of the arch. For this purpose I provide a shaped plate of material which has a limited degree of flexibility and is made with low ribs arranged as illustrated on the drawing for purposes hereinafter explained.

For a more complete understanding of the invention, reference maybe had to the following description thereof, and tothe drawing, of which:

FlGURE 1 is a plan view of an arch support embodying the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a bottom plan view of the same;

FIGURE 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1; `and FIGURE 4 is a section on the line 4 4 of FIGURE 1, showing the arch support in a shoe.

The arch support illustrated on the drawing is preferably a one-piece molded plate of a suitable synthetic resin such as polyethylene. The plate is shaped to fit into the heel and shank portions of a shoe and is of a thickness to give it moderate flexibility. The margins 12, 14 along the sides and rear end of the plate are preferably turned up slightly to form `a comfortable seat to receive the heel and arch portions of a foot. The plate is longitudinally arched in accordance with curvature of the shank of the shoe in which it is to be installed.

According to the invention, ribs are formed on the bottom face of the plate by additional local thickness of the plate partly -to provide additional stiffness to the plate and partly to press up through the plate when the weight of the foot is upon it, so as to form low ridges on the upper surface of the plate to press locally against certain areas of the sole of the foot for extra support and balance. Two of these ribs 20, 22 extend generally lengthwise of the plate and are near but spaced inward from the respective side margins 12. As shown, the forward end portions 24, 26 `of these ribs turn toward each other. The ridges caused by these ribs on the upper surface of the plate support the inner and outer longitudinal arches of the foot from the heel tothe first and fth metatarsals respectively. Connecting the mid portions of the ribs 20, 22 is a transverse rib 3d which forms an H with the ribs 20, 22, and provides greater support for the `arch at the instep.

A fourth rib 32 is located near the forward end of the under `face of the plate and extends transversely forward of the end portions 24, 26 of the two longitudinal ribs 2G, 22.

3,081,774 Patented Mar. 19, 1963 ice On the upper face of the plate a single transverse rib 34 is provided. This rib is arcuate in shape and its end portions are directly over the end portions 24, 26 of the ribs on the under face. This rib, reinforced by the rib 30 almost directly underneath it, supports the front transverse arch of the foot under the second, third and fourth metatarsals.

The polyethylene or other similar material employed for the arch support is sufciently yielding to raise llow ridges thereon when the arch support is pressed down strongly against a relatively unyielding surface such as the insole of a shoe. This results in extra support for special portions of the sole of the foot, -as hereinbefore explained. The ribs also provide mechanical reinforcement for the plate itself and thus reduce fiexing fatigue of the material of Ithe plate, permitting the use of a plate which is relatively thin and light.

I claim:

1. An arch support for footwear, comprising a moderately Iflexible plate of a synthetic resin shaped to tit within the heel and shank portions of a shoe, the side and rear margins of said plate being Iturned up, said plate having areas of additional local thickness forming ribs on the under face of said plate, two of said ribs extending lengthwise of the plate and spaced inward from said turned-up margins, one of said ribs extending transversely of the plate from one of said two ribs to the other, said plate also having a fourth rib on its under face extending transversely thereof near the forward end thereof, and a transverse rib on its upper face near the forward end thereof.

2. An arch support for footwear, comprising a moderately exible plate of polyethylene shaped to fit within the heel and shank portions of a shoe, the margins of said plate along the sides and rear end thereof being turned up, said plate having areas of additional local thickness forming ribs on its under face, two of said ribs extending lengthwise of the plate near said turned-up margins, the forward end portions of said two ribs being turned toward each other, a third rib extending transversely of the plate and making an H with said two ribs, a fourth rib extending transversely near the forward end of the under face of the plate, and a transverse rib on the upper face of the plate near the forward end thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS `1,215,090 Wood Feb. 6, 1917 1,399,447 Spiegel Dec. 6, 1921 1,760,300 Donovan M-ay 27, 1930 1,934,591 Churchill et al. Nov. 7, y1933 2,085,374 Ludlam June 29, 1937 2,139,971 Pava Dec. 13, 1938 2,150,779 Nickerson Mar. 14, 1939 2,353,829 Iakosky July 18, 1944 2,409,960 Scholl Oct. 22, 1946 2,713,732 Guest IJuly 26, 1955 

1. AN ARCH SUPPORT FOR FOOTWEAR, COMPRISING A MODERATELY FLEXIBLE PLATE OF A SYBTHETIC RESIN SHARPED TO FIT WITHIN THE HEEL AND SHANK PORTIONS OF A SHOE, THE SIDE AND REAR MARGINS OF SAID PLATE BEING TURNED UP, SAID PLATE HAVING AREAS OF ADDITIONAL LOCAL THICKNESS FORMING RIBS ON THE UNDER FACE OF SAID PLATE, TWO OF SAID RIBS EXTENDING LENGTHWISE OF THE PLATE AND SPACED INWARD FROM SAID 